System of control



March 18 1924. 1,486,881

A. J. HALL SYSTEM OF CONTROL Original Filed July 19 1917 INVENTOR 8 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. HALL, OF WILKINSBQRG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

sys'rmvr or CONTROL.

Original application fl1ed July 19, 1917, Serial No. 181,536. Divided and this application filed may 12, 4

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. HALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Systems of Control, of which the following is a specification, this a plic'ation being a divisionof application erial No. 181,536, filed July 19, 1917.

My invention relates to control systems and especially to the control of a plurality of induction motors that are operated in conjunction with a phase-converting machine and a starting motor therefor.

- One object of my invention is to provide a system of the above-indicated character wherein substantially balanced phase relations of the converting machine under different load conditions may be maintained, while the acceleration and running of the machine may be effected irrespective of the condition of the phase-balancing means.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrically-controlled switching device having positions corresponding to the starting and running connections of a starting motor for a phase-converting machine of the above-mentioned type, together with means dependent upon the inoperative ness of the phase-converter circuits for causing the switching device to return to its starting position.

Other objects of my invention, directed towards the establishment of an effective and reliable control system of the class under consideration, will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1' is a diagrammatic 'view of the main circuits of a system of control'embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a sequence chart, of a well-known form, for indicating the order of operation of the various switches that are shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of one set of auxiliary governing circuits for the main system that is shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detailed diagrammatic view of one of the main-circuit switches.

Referring to Fig. 1, the system shown comprises suitable supply-circuit conductors Trolley and Ground; a plurality of main dynamo-electric machines or driving induc- Serial No. 296,486.

tion motors, two of which, M#1 and M#2, are illustrated; a plurality of secondary-circuit regulating resistors, such as liquid rheostats LRl and. L112 for the induction motors; a main transformer 21 having a primary winding 22 and a secondary or distributing Winding 23 that operates in conjunction with a phase-converting machine 24: for supplying three-phase energy to the propelling motors; a combined alternatingcurrent starting motor and direct-current exciter 25 for the phase-converting machine 24; a motongenerator set 26 or other source of direct-current energy; a change-over switch 27 having two operative positions respectively marked Start and Run for governing the operation of the phase-converting machine and its allied auxiliary machines; a plurality of sets of preventive coils 28 and 29, or equivalent devices, for preventing current surges and short-circuits of transformer-winding sections during transition from one transformer tap to another; a plurality of relay devices 30, 31, and 32, that are connected in circuit with various portions of the main control system for governing-certain auxiliary control-circuit connections, as hereinafter traced in detail; a line switch LS for connecting the primary transformer winding 22 across the supply circuit; a plurality of secondary transformer-winding switches -1 to 7, inclusive; a plurality of primary induction-motor switches A1, B1 and G1 and A2, B2, C2 are employed for connecting the primary winding of the motors Mitl and M#2, respectively, to the-main transformer 21; and the phase-converting machine 24:, in a manner that will hereinafter be more fully described.

The phase converter 24: comprises a primary or exciting winding 36 that is energized in phase with the secondary transformer winding 23; a secondary or induced winding 37 having approximately 86.6 per cent of the number. of turns in the primary winding 36.; and a rotor 38 which is provided with a squirrel-cage winding 39 to produce the well-known induction-1notor action when starting the phase converter and which is also provided with a direct-current exciting winding 40.for. purposes of powerfactor regulation. The exciting winding 40 is connected in star relation, two of the winding legs having a common terminal,

23 upon the primary converter winding 36, thereby insuring the rapid building-up of the secondary, converter voltage in the winding 37.

After a certain time interval, the changeover switch 27 is actuated to its position Run by reason of the energization of the actuating coil 27Run, as subsequently traced in detail, whereupon a direct-current circuit is established from the positive terminal 105 of the generating armature 46 of the motor-generator set 26 through conductor 105 and a plurality of contact segments 106 to 108, inclusive, which bridge certain sets of stationary contact members that are connected to the various sections of the direct-current exciting winding 44, whence circuit is completed through conductor 111 to the negative terminal of the armature 46. The former starting motor 25 thus becomes a direct-current generator that is driven by the phase-converter 24.

During the transitional movement of the change-over switch, the alternating-current exciting field winding 43 is tem orarily short-circuited to prevent undesira le current or voltage surges.

The exciting circuit for the phase converter 24 is thereupon established from the positive terminal of the former startingmotor armature 42 through exciting field winding 43, conductor 96, contact member 115 of the change-over switch 27, conductor 103, exciting rotor winding 40 of the phaseconverter, conductor 101, contact segment 116 of the change-over switch, conductor 97 and communicating field winding 45 to the negative terminal of the armature 42. In this way, the phase-converter 24 is provided with direct-current rotor excitation during operation thereof to provide a desired corrective action with respect to the power-factor.

Under full operating conditions of the phase-converter, a three-phase voltage obtains between conductors 120, 121 and 122, which are respectively connected to the conductor 90, the outer terminal of the phaseconverter secondary winding 37 and the conductor 99. Upon the closure of switches A1, B1 and C1, energy is conveyed to the respective phase windings of the primary winding 61 of the induction motor M#1 from conductors 124, 125 and 126, which are respectively connected to the threephase supply conductors 120, 121 and 122.

Upon the closure of switches A2, B2 and C2, energy is conveyed to the winding 61 of the motor M#2 from conductors 140, 141 and 142, which are respectively connected to the three-phase supply conductors 120, 121 and 122.

The function of the. switches 1 to 7 inclusive, is to correct for phase distortions in the three-phase circuit under different conditions of load and also to compensate for the change from accelerating to re generative operation, whereby a substantially balanced three-phase voltage may be obtained under substantially all operating conditions. Since such regulation is familiar to those skilled in the art, no detailed description thereof is necessary here. It is deemed suflicient to state that the point of connection of the secondary phase-converter winding 37 to the transformer winding 23 is varied along a predetermined intermediate section of the transformer winding, while the connection of the upper terminal of the primary phase-converting winding 36 to the right-hand portion of the transformer winding 23 is also changed to suit operating conditions.

Referring to Fig. 3, the auxiliary system shown comprises the actuating coils of the various switches of Fig, 1 and interlocking contact members thereof of the familiar type that is illustrated in Fig. 4, together with cooperating contact members of the several relays; a starting switch 148 for the phase-converter, having positions Ofli', Start and Run; a phase-balancing switch 149 having positions a, b and c for regulating the various transformer secondary-winding switches 1 to 7, inclusive; a speed drum having running positions 0 and p, corresponding to cascade and parallel connection of the sets of motors; an accelerating drum having positions Lower, Hold and Raise for primarily governing the operation of the liquid-rheostat actuating mechanisms (not shown.) A master reverser MR for governing the direction of rotation of the driving induction motors; and a suitable auxiliary source of energy, such as a battery B, which may be charged from the illustrated motor-generator set.

Assuming that it is desired to effect operation of the phase-converter 24, the start ing switch 149 may be moved to its position Start in opposition to the action of a biasing spring 150, whereby a circuit is established from the positive terminal of the battery B through conductors 160 and 163, control fingers 164 and 165 which are bridged by contact segment 166 of the master reverser MB in its forward position. conductor 167, control fingers 168 and 169 which are bridged by contact segment 170 of the phase-converter starting switch 148, conductor 171, the actuating coil of the switch 14, interlock l6out and conductors 172 and 174 to the negative battery terminal.

As soon as the starting motor 25 has been set into operation in the previously described manner by the closure of the switch 14 and the relay 32 has, therefore, been raised to its upper or circuit-closing position, a further circuit is completed from the conductor 171 through co-operating contact the relay 39, the actuating (Jo-opera contact iary re 177 in its cl: 16-out to the 172. is soon as ho? ding circuit red by the bridgieznhers 175 o, co-operconverterors actua 7 i 1 1 m conductor rho,

'ie current upper position and negative conductoi "om the f1 com for a. to its position r or holding cirhe ph -converter 7 therefore, perat-or and is rere turned to outto the h s way, the a is electrcmag'netically position under certain conditions of various other circuits and is automatically returned to its btart position upon an interruption of main or auxiliary-circuit energy.

If the phase-balancing switch M9 occupics the illustrated position a, a circuit is established, as soon as the switch 10 is closed, from the positively energized battery conductor 160 through conductor 189 and control finger 190 to contact segment 191. of the balancing switch. Control fingers l92 and 193 are thereby energized, a circuit being continued from control finger 192 through conductor 19d, the parallel-related actuating coils of the switches 1., 2 and 8 and thence through conductor 186 and the interlock (3-in as already traced. A further circuit is established from the control. finger 193 through conductor 195, and the parallels related actuating coils of the switches 3 and 9 to the conductor 186. Thus, a predetermined regulation of the phase-converter to correct for secondary-voltage distortion is effected. In positions I) and 0 of the balancing switch 149, a plurality of switches (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for the sake of clearness) are closed, under the proper in terlocking conditions, to compensate for the above-mentioned phase distortion under litferent load conditions. After the phase converter is operating under full speed and voltage conditions, the speed drum may be actuated to effect closure of the switches A, B and C and A2, B2 and C2 of the motors Mil. and h[#2, respectively, and the accelera ing drum actuated to operate the liquid rheostats LE1 and LE2.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of control, the combination with an alternatingcnrrent supply circuit and an electrical load. of a phase-converter interposed between said supply circuit and said load, a starting motor for said phaseconverter, a plural-position switching device for eflecting starting connections of the motor in one position and difierent running connections of the motor in another position, and means, dependent upon inoperativeness of the phase-converter circuits, for actuating said switching device to the starting position.

2. In a system of control, the combination with an alternating-current supply circuit and an electrical load. of a phase-converter interposed between said supply circuit and said load, a starting motor for said phaseconverter, a switching device having positions corresponding to starting and running connections of the starting motor, electrically controlled, power operated means for actuatin said switching device to the one or the ot er position, and means dependent upon inoperativeness of the phase-converter circuits for energizing said electrically-controlled means to return the switching device to the starting position. 3. A system of control comprising a singlebase transformer winding, a threephase riving induction motor, a phase-converter for changing single-phase into threephase energy, a starting motor for said phase-converter, a main switching device aving positions corresponding to starting and running connections of the startirgig motor, a plurality of actuating coils for e ecting the movement of said switching device to the one or the other position, manual means for energizing the running coil of said switching device to complete the acceleration of said starting motor and interlocking means dependent upon inoperativeness of the phase-converter circuits for energizing the starting coil and de-energizing the running coil to return said switching device to its starting position.

4. A system of control comprising a single-phase transformer winding, a threephase driving induction motor, a phaseconverter for changing single-phase into three-phase energy, a starting motor for said phase-converter, a main switching device having positions corresponding to starting and running connections of the starting motor, a plurality of actuating coils for effecting the movement of said switching device to the one or the other position, a plurality of switches for governing the connections of said transformer winding to the remainder of the system, a manual controller adapted in one operative position to effect the closure of one of said switches to complete a circuit throu h the starting position of said switching device and through said starting motor and adapted in a second operative position to energize the running coil of said switching device to complete the acceleration of said starting motor, means for thereupon automatically closing certain other governing switches, interlocking means dependent upon the c1osure of one of said certain switches for establishing a holding circuit for said running coil, and interlocking means dependent upon the opening of: one of said certain switches for energizing the starting coil and de-energizing the running coil to return said switching device to its starting position.

5. A system of control comprising a single-phase transformer winding, a polyphase driving induction motor, a phase-converter having a primary and a secondary winding for changing single-phase into polyphase energy, a starting motor for said phase-converter, a main switching device having positions corresponding to starting and running connections of the starting motor, manual means for effecting the connection of said starting motor through said switching device to said transformer winding, and a relay governed by the electrical condition of said starting motor for effecting the connection of said primary phase-converter winding across a portion of said transformer winding.

6. A system of control comprising a single-phase transformer winding, a polyphase driving induction motor, a phase-converter having a primary and a secondary winding for changing single-phase into polyphase energy, a starting motor for said phase-converter, a main switching device aving positions corresponding to starting and running connections of the starting motor, manual means for efiecting the initial connection of said starting motor through said switching device and said primary winding across a major portion of said transformer winding, and a relay governed solely by the electrical condition of said starting motor for efiecting the connection of said primary winding directly across a minor portion of the transformer winding when the starting motor has started into operation, whereby the secondary voltage the phase converter is rapidly built up.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of April, 1919.

ARTHUR J. HALL. 

